On Monday afternoon, FC Dallas traded midfielder Arturo Alvarez back to the team that drafted him in 2003, the San Jose Earthquakes. With the Quakes off on Wednesday, Alvarez returned to the club he's called home for nearly four seasons to gather some personal effects and also to say goodbye to his now former teammates.
"There are some great memories here," Alvarez said. "I was here for three and a half years and a lot of stuff happened. I think I came here, developed and matured on and off the field as a player. There were good moments here. Last year was probably the highlight of my career here in Dallas. Hopefully, I can go to San Jose and start playing the way that I should be playing."
The decision to trade Alvarez wasn't an easy one for FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman, but in the end, he saw it as the right move.
"I think Arturo (Alvarez) is a very gifted player on the ball," Hyndman said. "At times, what I was looking for on the flanks was to get behind the opposition by making deeper runs, getting to the baseline and serving balls. I think he felt more comfortable in the middle third of the field. It's almost like he liked being that withdrawn striker or a holding center midfield.
"I said to him that if we would keep you here, as the year goes on, I think our relationship would sour because I would keep asking you to do something you don't want to do or can't do. So, I don't want it to end on that note," Hyndman continued. "I think you're a good player and let's find a place where you can do the type of things that you can do."
On Sunday, Alvarez started and played 88 minutes in FCD's 4-0 win against the LA Galaxy. Later that evening is when the swap with San Jose started coming together.
"I think it all came down Sunday night," Hyndman said. "We were all talking about it and it got finalized on Monday. But there had been discussion with a couple of teams. San Jose wasn't the only team that showed interest in Arturo. With all fairness to Arturo, I think he might be a little bit relieved as well only because the demands I was having on him in that position, I don't know if he was willing or capable of doing it.
"That does not mean that he's not a good player, it means that maybe the style or structure wasn't bringing the best out of him. I told our players today that that was not something that was easy for me to do. I had never done it before, so it wasn't easy for me," added Hyndman. "But I always believe in being honest and letting the player be the first to know. I did that and let the team know that this has nothing to do with the quality of Arturo. This might not have been the best fit for him and we want him to do well. I know (Frank) Yallop really likes him and that's why they came up with such a high bid for him. We wish him nothing but the best."
Alvarez knew a swap was in the works but when he learned he would be joining the Earthquakes again, it made him very happy.
"I had been talking to my agent and knew that a couple of teams were interested," he said. "It really wasn't that big of a surprise. I'm really excited. I think maybe it was time for a change and what better place to go than to San Jose where it all started for me. I'm excited about that and can't wait to get going. I know they had [Wednesday] off, so I'm here getting some of my stuff and saying goodbye to some of the guys that I was friends with here. I'm happy to be at San Jose now."
He spent two seasons with the Earthquakes, 2003 and 2004, before being traded to FCD in January 2005. He was part of the team that won the MLS Cup in 2003.
"I was 17 or 18 when I was there," Alvarez said. "I do have some great memories. I remember winning MLS Cup with them in 2003. So, hopefully, good memories like that can repeat again. I know they're a new team this year and it's always difficult for a new team to get going here. I think Frank (Yallop) is a great coach and he will have the players to maybe have a better second half of the season and maybe even a better season next year."
Coincidentally enough, Alvarez's last game for FCD was against the Galaxy and his first game back with San Jose could very well also come against LA, who the Quakes meet on Sunday.
"I'm really happy that we won that game," Alvarez said of his last game with FCD. "I felt like I played well. It was a good win for this club because things hadn't been going well here."
Even though it has been more than three years since he last played in the Bay Area, Alvarez still knows some of his new teammates, including Ronnie O'Brien, who played with him at FC Dallas in 2005 and 2006.
"I know Ronnie O'Brien, Ramiro Corrales, who I played with in San Jose, Ryan Cochrane, who I played with in San Jose and the assistant coach Ian Russell, who I played with when he was a player in San Jose," Alvarez said. "I know a lot of the guys there and being in the league, I know some of the players they have now like Eric Denton, Joe Cannon, Nick Garcia and stuff like that. It's a good group and I can't wait to be in the mix."
Those won't be the only familiar faces to greet him with his new side. Alvarez also played for Frank Yallop as a rookie in 2003.
"For the few coaches that I've had in my young career so far, I've got to say that he's one of my favorite coaches," Alvarez said. "I think I'm really excited about that. I'm going to play for a coach that's really going to appreciate my game. He knows the kind of player that I am and is excited to have me. When a player is happy, that's when he performs well. So, I'm going to go out there and do my best."
Corrales currently wears No. 12, which Alvarez wore with the Hoops. But Alvarez said he will switch to a new number to signify a fresh start.
"I'm going to wear 17 now," he said. "I wore it a couple of times with the youth national teams. It's a good number. It was one of the numbers open, so I figured that I might as well take it. It's a new start."
On Oct. 2, San Jose will face FCD at Pizza Hut Park and Alvarez admits playing against the Hoops will be a little strange but the goal will remain the same.
"Yes, it will be weird but just like it is when I go to (my hometown) Houston and play against them, I will try and come here and get three points," he said. "There's nothing weird about that."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
